1 “Building a Simple Satellite and CubeSat Ground Station” ASAT 2014 May 2, 2015 Jann and Bob Koepke AIAA OC Rocketry AIAA OC Section – NAR #718 Photo

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““Building a Simple Building a Simple Satellite and CubeSat Satellite and CubeSat

Ground Station”Ground Station”

ASAT 2014 May 2, 2015Jann and Bob Koepke

AIAA OC Rocketry

AIAA OC Section – NAR #718

Photo from NASA Space Network

Presentation GoalsPresentation GoalsIdentify resources and materials to build a simple Identify resources and materials to build a simple and inexpensive ($100-$200 + PC) ground stationand inexpensive ($100-$200 + PC) ground station

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ARISS (Amateur Radio on ISS)Kingston Australia

AIAA OC RocketryOrange, CA

““Starting With The Ground Station”Starting With The Ground Station”(recommendation from Jordi Puig-Suari Cal Poly SLO)(recommendation from Jordi Puig-Suari Cal Poly SLO)

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Excellent starting pointExcellent starting point Forces you to research what has been doneForces you to research what has been done

• Which satellites are in orbitWhich satellites are in orbit• How to locate those satellitesHow to locate those satellites• FrequenciesFrequencies• ModulationModulation

Resources and materials availableResources and materials available• AntennasAntennas• RadiosRadios• SoftwareSoftware

What do we need & need to know?What do we need & need to know?

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Need to knowNeed to know• What CubeSats exist and can we hear themWhat CubeSats exist and can we hear them• What frequencies do those satellites use?What frequencies do those satellites use?• What data is sent and how is it sent?What data is sent and how is it sent?

What resources and equipment is availableWhat resources and equipment is available• Radio receiverRadio receiver• AntennaAntenna• Computer (2Computer (2ndnd monitor is very nice) monitor is very nice)• Operational and Tracking softwareOperational and Tracking software

Common CommunicationsCommon Communications

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PowerPower• 30mW – 2W for CubeSats30mW – 2W for CubeSats• Common to lower power in eclipseCommon to lower power in eclipse• 10W ERP for NOAA10W ERP for NOAA

Antennas: Dipole, monopole, turnstile, patch, QFHAntennas: Dipole, monopole, turnstile, patch, QFH Modulation: FSK, AFSK, BPSK, CW, SSTVModulation: FSK, AFSK, BPSK, CW, SSTV Protocol: AX.25, mobitex, Morse code, proprietaryProtocol: AX.25, mobitex, Morse code, proprietary Data Rates: 1200 – 9600 BAUD, 11 – 50 WPMData Rates: 1200 – 9600 BAUD, 11 – 50 WPM Voice: FM, SSBVoice: FM, SSB

Satellite and CubeSat Frequencies of InterestSatellite and CubeSat Frequencies of Interest

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CubeSat Comm Table (Bryan Klofas) JE9PEL/I All Satellites Frequency listhttp://www.klofas.com/comm-table http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm

Frequency Usage Comments8 - 13 MHz Very Low Experimental and Earth Exploration

21 MHz & 29-30 MHz Low Ham Band: Amateur Uplink and Downlink

137 – 138 MH Low NOAA Weather Satellite APT imagery

145 – 146 MHz Very High Ham Band: Common Amateur Voice/Data Uplink and data downlink and beacon

400 MHz & 425 MHz Very Low Common Amateur Voice/Data Downlink

432 – 438 MHz Very High Ham Band: Common Amateur Voice/Data Downlink

450 MHz & 465 MHz Very Low Government

915 MHz & 980 MHz Very Low Experimental and Government

1.6 & 2.2 - 2.4 GHz Very Low Experimental Amateur

5.84 GHz & 8GHz Very Low Amateur

13 GHz Very Low Private

Simple Satellite Ground StationSimple Satellite Ground Station

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The RadioThe Radio

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Fixed Multiband Amateur Radio Transceiver 144-148 MHz, 220-225 MHz and 420-450 MHzAudio FM, AM, SSB and data modesKenwood TS-2000 $1500

Portable Multiband Amateur Radio Transceiver144-148 MHz, 220-225 MHz and 420-450 MHz Audio FM, AM, SSB and data modesYaesu FT-817ND $700

Software Defined Radio Receiver only30MHz to 1.7GHz; some cover higher & lowerAudio FM, AM, SSB, and data modesNuand Blade RF 300MHz to 3.8GHz $650

Software Defined Radio Receiver only30 MHz to 1.7GHzAudio FM, AM, SSB, and data modesNooElec RTL-SDR $24

The Low Noise AmplifierThe Low Noise Amplifier

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Low Noise Amplifier20 – 23dB gain from 28 MHz to 1GHzLNA4ALL $100

Low Noise Amplifier with Antenna Polarization Switch100 – 500 MHzFrom AMSAT $65

Generic no-name20MHz to 2.4GHzEBay $15

AntennasAntennas

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137MHz QuadrifilarOmnidirectionalRight Hand Circularly Polarized

144 MHz TurnstileOmnidirectionalFeed out of phase for circular polarization

QFH pattern from ARRL Italy; Turnstile from QSL.net

Antennas (cont’d)Antennas (cont’d)

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144MHz LindenbladOmnidirectionalCircularly polarized

Lindenblad antenna and Yagi pattern from ARRL antenna book

YagiDirectional3 element 144 MHz7 element 430 MHzUse 2 crossed 90 degrees out of phase for circular polarization

Directional AntennasDirectional Antennas

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Photo From QST article on WRAPS posted on AMSAT.org

Can be handheld and pointedMount on a camera tripod for stabilityEasiest is a motorized alti-azimuth rotator

Alti-Azimuth Rotators can be home built – WRAPS from AMSAT is about $300 in parts

A commercial system is around $700 for the rotator and $600 for the controller

Software – for SDRSoftware – for SDR

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• Allows control of the radio• Tuning• Modulation type• Bandwidth• Filters• Tracking – Automatic Doppler and Alti-Azimuth antenna

control• IQ Recording (can tune and change parameters during

playback)• Many options – many are free to download

• SDR Console (our choice)• SDR #• HDSDR• Linrad• Many, many more

Software – for Data DecodingSoftware – for Data Decoding

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• General Software• WxtoImg for NOAA APT Decoding• MMSSTV for Slow Scan Television• Software TNC (Terminal Node Controller) for

APRS (Amateur Packet Reporting System)• Satellite specific software – available on CubeSat

web pages• Funcube-1/Ukube-1• FO-29• Swisscube• Many more

S/W & Resources - Locating and TrackingS/W & Resources - Locating and Tracking

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• Software uses Keplerian Elements – the satellite specific inputs to a standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits

• On Line – Pass Predictions and Real Time Tracking• N2YO• Satview• Heavens Above• Many more

• Downloaded Software• SatPC32• Orbitron• Many more

Simple Satellite Ground StationSimple Satellite Ground Station

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The Ground Station Part IThe Ground Station Part I

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Antenna, Software Defined Radio (SDR),

and Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)

The LNA and SDR are on a PVC pipe that slips over the

antenna mast

The Antenna (Right Hand Circularly

Polarized Quadrifilar)

The Ground Station Part IIThe Ground Station Part II

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The tailgate of a pickup truck is an excellent “desk” when you

need to manually track the satellite (position and Doppler) – with the antenna mounted on a

photographic tripod

Or operate comfortably inside for an

omnidirectional antenna

Bringing up the ground stationBringing up the ground station

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• Try tuning a local FM radio station (K-Earth 101 at 101.1 MHz)• Try tuning the local NOAA weather station (great for adjusting and

measurements)• 162.400 – San Diego• 162.450 MHz – Santa Ana• 162.550 – Los Angeles

• Try tuning the NOAA Weather Satellites (Use WxtoImg to decode)• 137.1 MHz – NOAA 19• 137.620 MHz – NOAA 15• 137.9152 MHz – NOAA 18

• Try tuning FO-29 Ham Satellite (Decoder on FO-29 website)• 435.795 MHz beacon• 435.8 – 435.9 MHz SSB Transponder

• Try tuning Funcube-1 and Funcube-2 (UKube-1) CubeSats (Decoder on Funcube website

• 145.915 MHz - Funcube-2/UKube-1 3U CubeSat• 145.935 MHz – Funcube-1 1U CubeSat

Locating and TrackingLocating and TrackingWeb Based (e.g. N2YO)Web Based (e.g. N2YO)

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10 Day Predictions

Tracking

Locating and TrackingLocating and TrackingStand-Alone Software (e.g. SatPC32)Stand-Alone Software (e.g. SatPC32)

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Software Defined RadioSoftware Defined RadioSDR Console (Control of Radio & Recording)SDR Console (Control of Radio & Recording)

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Software Defined RadioSoftware Defined RadioSDR Console (Locating and Tracking)SDR Console (Locating and Tracking)

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NOAA-18NOAA-18

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• Not a CubeSat, but very easy to validate the ground station

• Launched May 20, 2005• NORAD 28645• Sun Synchronous Orbit at 870km

altitude in 102 minutes• 1419kg; 4.2m x 1.88m (body); Solar

Array 2.73m x 6.14m• Communications:

• APT (Automatic Picture Transmission) on 137.9125 MHz at 10W ERP

• Many other transmissions around 137-138 MHz, 400-465MHz, 1500-1700MHz, 2000-2300MHz

Photos from Wikipedia and NASA Critical Path

Start with an “Easy” Satellite - NOAAStart with an “Easy” Satellite - NOAA

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Video Link (video must be in same folder as PPT)

ISSISS

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• Expedition 1 launched October 31, 2000

• NORAD 25544• Orbits at 330 – 435 km altitude in

92 minutes• 419,555kg; Truss length109m;

Module Length 51 meters; Solar Array length 73 m

• Public Communications:• 145.49 – Voice Uplink• 145.824 Packet up and down• 437.550 Packet up and down• 437.8 Repeater uplink• 145.8 Repeater downlink and

SSTV

Photo from NASA

Slow Scan TV from the ISSSlow Scan TV from the ISS

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Funcube 1 (AO-73)Funcube 1 (AO-73)

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• One unit CubeSat• Launched November 21, 2013• NORAD 39444• Sun Synchronous at 670km in 97

minutes• <1 kg; 10cm x 10cm x 10cm (3U)• Communications:

• Power: Beacon 30 – 300 mW• Telemetry: 145.935 BPSK• Transponder: 435.15 – 435.13 MHz

UP LSB (inverting) and 145.95 – 145.97 MHz down USB

Photo from AMSAT UK

UKube-1 (Funcube 2)UKube-1 (Funcube 2)

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• Three Unit CubeSat• Launched July 8, 2014• NORAD 40074• Sun Synchronous near circular orbit at

625km in 97 minutes• 3.5 kg; 10cm x 10cm x 34cm (3U)• Communications:

• Power: Beacon 30 – 300 mW; Transponder 300 mW

• Telemetry: 145.915 at 30-300 mW• Beacon: 145.840 at 30-300 mW• Transponder: 435.08 – 435.06 MHz

UP and 145.93 – 145.95 MHz down MHz down SSB & CW at 300 mW

• Sband 2401.0 MHz 1Mb/s at 1 W• myPocketQub 437.425 – 437.525

MHz at 11 mW

Photo from AMSAT UK

Ukube-1 CubeSatUkube-1 CubeSat

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Saudi-OSCAR 50 (SO-50)Saudi-OSCAR 50 (SO-50)

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• Not a CubeSat but easy to work with ground station

• Launched December 20, 2002• NORAD 27607• Sun Synchronous orbit at 625km in 97

minutes• 10 kg; ~25cm cube• Communications:

• Repeater: 145.85 MHz UP and 436.795 MHz down FM with 74.4 Hz PL Tone to arm and 67 Hz tone to activate at 250mW

Photo from AMSAT

Fuji Oscar 29 (JAS-2)Fuji Oscar 29 (JAS-2)

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• Not a CubeSat, but easy to validate the ground station

• Launched August 17, 1996• NORAD 24279• Polar Orbit 1300km altitude in 112

minutes• 50 kg; 44cm x 47 cm• Communications:

• Power: Beacon 100mW; Transponder 1 Watt

• Beacon: 435.795 (CW) at 100mW• Transponder: 145.9-146 MHz UP

and 435.8-9MHz down, USB & CW

Photo from pe0sat

FO-29 Amateur Satellite (OSCAR)FO-29 Amateur Satellite (OSCAR)

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Challenges and SuggestionsChallenges and Suggestions

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• Determining which satellites are still active• Many CubeSats and Amateur Radio Satellites

have multiple names• Get an Amateur Radio license (allows you to

talk through the satellites)• A lot of information on satellites is available

through Amateur Radio Satellites (OSCAR – AMSAT)

• A lot of information on CubeSats is available on line in student theses

Local ClubLocal Club

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DigitalSats Club of Southern California

Organized by Dr. Don Black• https://smallsats.wordpress.com• http://www.meetup.com/smallsats/members/31390572

Thank youThank you

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Questions?Questions?

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Additional InformationAdditional Information

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• CubeSats at Cal Poly SLO (PolySat): http://polysat.calpoly.edu/

• Amateur Radio Satellites US (AMSAT): http://www.amsat.org/

• Amateur Radio Satellites UK (AMSAT-UK): http://amsat-uk.org/

• PE0SAT – Info about Amateur Radio Satellites: http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/

• ARRL – Bringing space into the classroom: http://www.arrl.org/classroom-library-satellite-communications

• CubeSat.org – Collaboration of organizations: http://www.cubesat.org/

• NASA CubeSat Initiative: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/CubeSats_initiative.html

• Google CubeSat for research papers and theses

General LinksGeneral Links CubeSat Comm Table (Klofas): CubeSat Comm Table (Klofas): http://www.klofas.com/comm-table JE9PEL/1 All Satellites list: JE9PEL/1 All Satellites list: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm

Ham Satellite Status: Ham Satellite Status: http://oscar.dcarr.org/ SwissCube Decoder: SwissCube Decoder: http://swisscube-live.ch/RadioAmateurs/BeaconDecoder NOAA KLM User’s Guide: NOAA KLM User’s Guide: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pod-guide/ncdc/docs/klm/html/c4/sec4-2.htm

FO-29 PE0SAT: FO-29 PE0SAT: http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/satellite/amateur-radio-satellites/fo-29 /

FO-29 AMSAT: FO-29 AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=1024 Satview (tracking): Satview (tracking): http://www.satview.org Satflare (tracking): Satflare (tracking): http://www.satflare.com NOAA-18 information: NOAA-18 information: http://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/340 NOAA-18 Status; NOAA-18 Status; http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Operations/POES/status.html#noaa18

QFH Antenna pattern: QFH Antenna pattern: http://www.aribra.it/autocostruzione/qfh/index_e.php

Turnstile antenna pattern: Turnstile antenna pattern: http://www.qsl.net/kp4md/omnihoriz.htm WRAPS article: WRAPS article: http://ww2.amsat.org/xtra/wraps-mark-spencer-wa8sme-qst-jan-2014-copyright-arrl.pdf

SwissCube Live: SwissCube Live: http://swisscube-live.ch/

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General LinksGeneral Links SwissCube: SwissCube: http://swisscube.epfl.ch/ List of SDR Software: List of SDR Software: http://www.rtl-sdr.com/big-list-rtl-sdr-supported-software/

N2YO - Tracking: N2YO - Tracking: http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544 Satview – Tracking: Satview – Tracking: http://www.satview.org// Heavens Above - Tracking: http://www.heavens-above.com/Heavens Above - Tracking: http://www.heavens-above.com/ SatPC32: SatPC32: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=50http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=50 Orbitron: http://www.stoff.pl/Orbitron: http://www.stoff.pl/ WxtoImg – NOAA Weather: http://www.wxtoimg.com/WxtoImg – NOAA Weather: http://www.wxtoimg.com/ MMSSTV – Slow Scan Television: MMSSTV – Slow Scan Television: http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.phphttp://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php CalPoly Ground StationCalPoly Ground Station: : http://polysat.calpoly.edu/ground-station/gs-documents/http://polysat.calpoly.edu/ground-station/gs-documents/

ReferenceReference ARRL Antenna Book, 22ARRL Antenna Book, 22ndnd edition edition

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Documents

1 “Building a Simple Satellite and CubeSat Ground Station” ASAT 2014 May 2, 2015 Jann and Bob Koepke AIAA OC Rocketry AIAA OC Section – NAR #718 Photo